Matt Hsu is a Taiwanese-Australian musician and composer who records and performs as Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra.[1] Hsu was born in 1986 to immigrant Taiwanese parents in Brisbane.[2] As a child he listened to metal and punk music, in an effort to distance himself from Asian stereotypes, but later embraced his Taiwanese heritage, using music to express overcoming internalised racism.[2] In 2020, he became a Queensland Music Awards winner in the world music category[3] and has been identified as "one of the freshest feeling projects in Australian music right now."[4] Matt is also known as the co-founder, trumpet player and songwriter for the folk punk band The Mouldy Lovers.[5] Matt's 2019 debut album 'The Shirt Album' is notable for having been released "in the form of an organic fair-trade T-shirt in place of a CD" with the aim of reducing potential plastic waste.[6] The album features collaborations with noted Tibetan musician Tenzin Choegyal, Triple J Unearthed Sprung Hip Hop winner Blaq Carrie,[7] and Japanese musician Kenta Hayashi.[8] As a 'one-person orchestra' he has performed at TEDx and Australia's BIGSOUND Festival, and has been featured on SBS World News.[9]

Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra
Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra photographed by Aimee Catt, 2017.
Background information
Birth name	Matt Hsu
Born	1986 (1986) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Genres	Experimental music, art pop, bedroom pop
Occupation(s)	Composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
Instrument(s)	Trumpet, clarinet, accordion, double bass, mbira, trombone, marimba, vibraphone, percussion
Website	obscureorchestra.com

Awards

Queensland Music Awards

The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.

Live ensemble

Formation

In 2020, Matt established a live ensemble consisting of Brisbane indie musicians, hip-hop artists, classically trained musicians, and multi-disciplinary artists.[11] Also referred to as Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra, the ensemble is "underpinned by gender equity, inclusivity and visibility",[12] and currently comprises 20 core members and frequent guest vocalists, which include culturally diverse, First Nations, disabled, transgender and non-binary artists.

Members

• Yvette Ofa Agapow - vibraphone, xylophone
• Kathryn Bermingham - clarinet, baritone sax
• Laura Hjortshoj-Haller - french horn
• Lisa Kelly - harp
• Jen Horn - accordion, piano
• Matt Hsu - composer, orchestrator, vocals, trumpet, clarinet, musical saw, shakuhachi, t'rung, found objects
• Andrew Humphreys - trumpet, trombone, euphonium, ukulele
• Courts Lovell - clarinet, soprano sax
• Fin Nicol-Taylor - orchestrator, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, ukulele
• Lucie Pegna - vocals
• Katie Randall - drum kit
• Hannah Reardon-Smith - flute, bass flute
• Saro Roro - vocals
• Jodie Rottle - flute, found objects
• Jonathan Sriranganathan - tenor sax, vocals
• Kaya Tominaga - taiko, rap, toy piano, ukulele, bongos
• Caroline Townsend - double bass
• Fiona Wheeler - trombone, slide trumpet, ukulele, vocals
• Flora Wong - violin, viola

Past members

• Aimee Harris - harp, viola
• Steph McIntyre - drum kit
• Maja Salamon - flute, violin
• Alice Wheeler - trumpet

Guests and collaborators

• apadalia - vocals, artwork
• Ashleigh Djokic - vocals, artwork
• Blaq Carrie - rap
• Tenzin Choegyal - vocals, dranyen, limbu
• Kenta Hayashi - guitar
• L-FRESH the Lion - rap
• Loopy! 鹿皮 - vocals, artwork
• Mack Ridge - rap
• Naavikaran - spoken word
• Anisa Nandaula - spoken word
• Nardean - rap
• Nima Doostkhah - rap
• Rina - vocals
• Sachém - rap
• SOLCHLD - vocals, rap

References